My Cousin Dave, who served with the Army in Afghanistan last year, brought up a good point in the comments section:
Obviously Grandpa Dotson was a Vet... but which war did he fight in? And which branch of the military was he in? I have a soft spot in my heart for the old boys who went and fought in WW II. I'd love to hear about were he served and what he did while in the service.
So, from Grandpa's Obituary:
"Simon entered the Army at Fort Lewis, WA on Jan. 18, 1944 and was discharged May 13, 1946 [my mom-in-law was born in June 1947]. He served as a radio operator in the Philippines ending his career as a Tech 4. He was also Chief of Section anti-aircraft weapons, supervising 14 men and supplying 40mm anti--aircraft weapons. He received the Philippines Liberation Medal with one bronze star, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, American Theatre Service Medal, Victory Medal, and of course, the Good Conduct Medal."
Then he came back to podunk Montana and raised three fabulous children and 10 grandkids, operating a Cargill Grain Elevator, fishing, and boating--- my in-laws have great memories of him, even my dad-in-law. They are a really close family, thanks in part, no doubt, to the good man Grandpa Dotson was.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
11/07: Grandpa Si Dotson's Funeral
The American Legion Bugler played Taps...
...and the guns saluted...
...as loved ones looked on in the sleet (yes, that's Addie in front).
Farewell, Grandpa.
Poor Angie had to go to her Grandpa's funeral on her birthday, so we tried to make it fun by having a big cousin party here last night. It was great! Mike, Connie, and Cindy are on the couch; Mom Melin is holding the cake; Angie is blowing out candles while Addie and Danny help; Aunt Ellie and Emma look on (PS: See Addie's latest haircut? It's pretty cute).
Emma (daughter of Rich's cousin, Connie) and Heidi had fun together. Emma is 9 days older than Heidi.
Cute Cousins--only 2 Dotson Cousins (Jess and Bobby) were missing.
Emma (daughter of Rich's cousin, Connie) and Heidi had fun together. Emma is 9 days older than Heidi.
Cute Cousins--only 2 Dotson Cousins (Jess and Bobby) were missing.L-R: Pam, Mike, Connie, Mark, Annette, Cindy, Rich, & Angie.
"Moving in silent desperationKeeping an eye on the holy land
A hypothetical destination
Say, who is this walking man?
Well, the leaves have come to turning
And the goose has gone to fly
And bridges are for burning
So don’t you let that yearning
Pass you by...
The frost is on the pumpkin
And the hay is in the barn...
And the walking man walks..."
-James Taylor
Family Lunch
We had lunch at The Wok today with Rich's mom's siblings; clockwise from left: Addie, Me, Heidi, Aunt Ellie, Uncle Dan, Uncle Dennis, Aunt Carol behind Cousin Cindy, Mom & Dad Melin (Rich took the picture).
Addie took this picture of Heidi with Grandma...
...and this one of me waving. Monday, November 07, 2005
Snowy Monday
I keep getting calls and e-mails wondering if I am really okay---I REALLY AM! I feel much better today than I did a week ago, even better than I have in a long time. I even taught a class at church yesterday, didn't take a nap because we had so much family in town.
Which brings me to : we are on on our way to a funeral for Rich's grandpa. His mom's dad died last week in California and he is being burried here today next to Grandma Adeline out in Paradise Valley. Yes, we have had quite the week! But all the mourning will be over soon and we will be glad...then it will be time for Thanksgiving and we really do have so much to be thankful for.
Anyway--I'll be back soon with the week in pictures and lots of other things. Thanks again SO MUCH for all the support and love. I have the best family and friends (and even acquaintances!).
Which brings me to : we are on on our way to a funeral for Rich's grandpa. His mom's dad died last week in California and he is being burried here today next to Grandma Adeline out in Paradise Valley. Yes, we have had quite the week! But all the mourning will be over soon and we will be glad...then it will be time for Thanksgiving and we really do have so much to be thankful for.
Anyway--I'll be back soon with the week in pictures and lots of other things. Thanks again SO MUCH for all the support and love. I have the best family and friends (and even acquaintances!).
Friday, November 04, 2005
Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning's End
Remember that song? I just had a little "ending" of my own; I am only writing this because I would like to have read something like it yesterday, to know what was coming, and if you don't want to hear the details, it's okay to stop reading now.
After we called the key family members (including Uncle Doctor to decode what-the-freak the nurse was telling me) and got the kids to bed, Richard and I went to bed and snuggled up. I still felt very much like it was the first day of a regular period--not much bleeding, a little lower back discomfort, the occasional quirky pelvic pain. I felt a little cold and shaky and my Sacrum was achy (the joints on both sides). I finally got comfortable and fell asleep, afraid of what kind of nightmares I might have (I didn't dream at all).
I got up to pee a few times, each time accompanied by a little more blood, but nothing too serious. The cramps/contractions picked up at 4am and I got a tall glass of water and 2 Tylenol and went back to bed. I tucked several pillows under my knees to tilt my pelvis back and relieve my lower back (that's where I always feel my contractions) and fell back to sleep (even with a squirmy, whiny visit from Heidi).
At 6:20AM, I was awakened by a warm woosh of fluid that swept up my lower back. I jumped out of bed as fast as I could and gathered my baggy pj bottoms around my waist. As I ran up the stairs, the warmth traveled down my legs and I reached the bathroom, narrowly averting disaster. What happened next was not unlike a trap door effect-- I sat down and painlessly "lost a load." I shouldn't say painlessly, because it was emotionally painful, but it didn't hurt my body. I was shocked at the quantity of fluid just flowing out, sort of like when you stop to pee on a roadtrip and you think to yourself, "Wow--I had no idea my bladder was that big!" When the torrent finally stopped I felt faint and just waited to gather my wits. I started running a hot bath and turned around to see what had just happened. The blood was so thick, the water did not dilute it--it looked pretty horrific. But I knew my body had done its job.
It took me a minute to flush because I knew that what I had considered "our baby brother" until a few days ago was in there. But I finally did it and climbed into the tub. By body began to relax and I felt better after only a few minutes. I looked at the 4 bruises on my arms from all the blood work and wondered if it had been worth it to worry all week. I concluded that it HAD-- even though I began spotting before the conclusive results came back, I had been able to prepare mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for this experience, whereas if I had just gone and had a totally normal doctor visit one Friday, and then had this horrible experience the next, I would have been pretty traumatized. I thought of all my friends & family who have gone through this several times in their struggles with infertility-- I felt waves of sisterly empathy and wanted to send out (belated) long distance hugs.
I feel okay now. It has been about 30 minutes. Everyone is silently sleeping and the sun is rising and that song I quoted is running through my head---every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
***
Update: Friday morning was very much like labor for me, with the cramping, etc. I only bled heavily and consistently on Friday, then spurts of heavy beeding on Saturday and Sunday, and occasional spotting and weak abdominal pain on Monday & Tuesday. By Wednesday I was merely exhausted, and Thursday found out I am anemic (surprise, surprise). The following Friday I felt good--with enough energy to take care of my home and family and with renewed spiritual and emotional strength, too. As I said to a friend--and it sounds kind of silly-- but if you have to have a miscarriage, this was a good one to have: early in the pregnancy, natural, and relatively short, with lots of family and friend support and a little bit of warning. I hope this never happens to anyone who reads this, but if it does (or has), I hope these details helped. It's something no one talks about because it is so emotional and private, but I wanted to know about other people's experiences to give me a "heads up"--that's why I have shared mine.
After we called the key family members (including Uncle Doctor to decode what-the-freak the nurse was telling me) and got the kids to bed, Richard and I went to bed and snuggled up. I still felt very much like it was the first day of a regular period--not much bleeding, a little lower back discomfort, the occasional quirky pelvic pain. I felt a little cold and shaky and my Sacrum was achy (the joints on both sides). I finally got comfortable and fell asleep, afraid of what kind of nightmares I might have (I didn't dream at all).
I got up to pee a few times, each time accompanied by a little more blood, but nothing too serious. The cramps/contractions picked up at 4am and I got a tall glass of water and 2 Tylenol and went back to bed. I tucked several pillows under my knees to tilt my pelvis back and relieve my lower back (that's where I always feel my contractions) and fell back to sleep (even with a squirmy, whiny visit from Heidi).
At 6:20AM, I was awakened by a warm woosh of fluid that swept up my lower back. I jumped out of bed as fast as I could and gathered my baggy pj bottoms around my waist. As I ran up the stairs, the warmth traveled down my legs and I reached the bathroom, narrowly averting disaster. What happened next was not unlike a trap door effect-- I sat down and painlessly "lost a load." I shouldn't say painlessly, because it was emotionally painful, but it didn't hurt my body. I was shocked at the quantity of fluid just flowing out, sort of like when you stop to pee on a roadtrip and you think to yourself, "Wow--I had no idea my bladder was that big!" When the torrent finally stopped I felt faint and just waited to gather my wits. I started running a hot bath and turned around to see what had just happened. The blood was so thick, the water did not dilute it--it looked pretty horrific. But I knew my body had done its job.
It took me a minute to flush because I knew that what I had considered "our baby brother" until a few days ago was in there. But I finally did it and climbed into the tub. By body began to relax and I felt better after only a few minutes. I looked at the 4 bruises on my arms from all the blood work and wondered if it had been worth it to worry all week. I concluded that it HAD-- even though I began spotting before the conclusive results came back, I had been able to prepare mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for this experience, whereas if I had just gone and had a totally normal doctor visit one Friday, and then had this horrible experience the next, I would have been pretty traumatized. I thought of all my friends & family who have gone through this several times in their struggles with infertility-- I felt waves of sisterly empathy and wanted to send out (belated) long distance hugs.
I feel okay now. It has been about 30 minutes. Everyone is silently sleeping and the sun is rising and that song I quoted is running through my head---every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
***
Update: Friday morning was very much like labor for me, with the cramping, etc. I only bled heavily and consistently on Friday, then spurts of heavy beeding on Saturday and Sunday, and occasional spotting and weak abdominal pain on Monday & Tuesday. By Wednesday I was merely exhausted, and Thursday found out I am anemic (surprise, surprise). The following Friday I felt good--with enough energy to take care of my home and family and with renewed spiritual and emotional strength, too. As I said to a friend--and it sounds kind of silly-- but if you have to have a miscarriage, this was a good one to have: early in the pregnancy, natural, and relatively short, with lots of family and friend support and a little bit of warning. I hope this never happens to anyone who reads this, but if it does (or has), I hope these details helped. It's something no one talks about because it is so emotional and private, but I wanted to know about other people's experiences to give me a "heads up"--that's why I have shared mine.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Laughter Through Tears is My Favorite Emotion
...The title of this post comes from "Steel Magnolias," in case you forgot. It's a quote I agree with, so I am going to give you something to laugh and cry about.
At 6:37pm we got a call from the lab confirming that our fetus is not viable and I am indeed miscarrying--I kinda knew when "the process" (spotting) began around 3pm and my heart broke. We've had lots of prayers and blessings and time to mentally prepare, so I am actually better now than I was a few days ago--I hate being in limbo. I am all right now. Thank you for your prayers and hugs and phone calls and support.
On a lighter note, we were just trying to get the girls dressed after baths. Addie brought her jammies up and Rich said, "Addie, you forgot your panties." Addie said, "No...panties aren't for me." Yep, Addie has made a lifestyle decision, at least for today--she's goin' commando. The girls really are a hoot, and if I can't ever have another baby, I am blessed beyond measure with these two kooky angels.
At 6:37pm we got a call from the lab confirming that our fetus is not viable and I am indeed miscarrying--I kinda knew when "the process" (spotting) began around 3pm and my heart broke. We've had lots of prayers and blessings and time to mentally prepare, so I am actually better now than I was a few days ago--I hate being in limbo. I am all right now. Thank you for your prayers and hugs and phone calls and support.
On a lighter note, we were just trying to get the girls dressed after baths. Addie brought her jammies up and Rich said, "Addie, you forgot your panties." Addie said, "No...panties aren't for me." Yep, Addie has made a lifestyle decision, at least for today--she's goin' commando. The girls really are a hoot, and if I can't ever have another baby, I am blessed beyond measure with these two kooky angels.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Rainy Days and Wednesdays
I feel pretty yucky today, although I have done my best to feel good and be normal. It's high time for a nap!
No news on the baby front; I had blood drawn yesterday to do the quantitative thing--I'll have more drawn tomorrow and they will see if hormones have increased--if so, there is a baby growing. Waiting and dreading--UGH! Anyway, life is good and we are enjoying the rain and cold today--there was snow on Bozeman Pass when we went to get the ward newsletter printed. We are just thankful that the 60-mph wind that pounded our little house for 3 days is gone, at least for a while! Updates soon...
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